Areas of Education in Quran

The purposes of education in the holy Quran:
The purposes of training in the holy Quran are the resultant of several Quranic topics:
A) The world creation purposes;
B) The human creation purposes;
C) The Quran descent purposes;
D) The Prophets purposes as God’s messenger.
Surveying these four subject matters can approach us to preliminary, intermediate, and final purposes of education in the Quran. Hence, the purposes of four pivots will be surveyed briefly:
The world creation purposes:
The creation of the world for human
الَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَ السَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ فَلَا تجَْعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَ أَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ(22)
(Baqarah, verse 22): he who made earth a resting place for you and the heaven a canopy and (who) sends rain from the cloud, then brings forth corps for your sustenance. So do not set up equals (rivals) to Allah, while you know.
Increasing human knowledge;
اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سمََاوَاتٍ وَ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنزََّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنهَُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلىَ‏ كلُ‏ِّ شىَ‏ْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكلُ‏ِّ شىَ‏ْءٍ عِلْمَا
(Ṭalāq(divorce), verse 12): Allah is he who create seven heavens, and of the earth like of them, the command gradually that Allah indeed encompasses all things in (his) knowledge.
The Resurrection (day) and the Justice
وَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ بِالحَْقّ‏ِ وَ لِتُجْزَى‏ كلُ‏ُّ نَفْسِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَ هُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
(Jāthīyah, verse22): and Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth( reason) and that every soul may be for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.
The human creation purposes:
The human testing;
الَّذِىخَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالحَْيَوةَلِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكمُ‏ْأَحْسَنُ عَمَلًاوَهُوَالْعَزِيزُالْغَفُورُ
( (Mulk surah, verse 2): he who created death and life that he may test you (to see ) which of you is best in deed (in conduct). And he is the All- mighty, All- forgiving.
Devotion;
وَمَاخَلَقْتُ الجِْنَّ وَالْانسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
(Dhārīyāt surah, verse56): and I have not created the men except that they may worship me.
Mercy ( BLESSING)
وَ لَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لجََعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَ لَا يَزَالُونَ مخُْتَلِفِينَ
إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَ لِذَالِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَ تَمَّتْ كلَِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
(Hūd,surah,verses 118,119): and if you Lord had pleased he would certainly have made people a single nation, but they continue to differ* except those on whom your Lord has mercy and for this did he create them, and the word of your Lord has been fulfilled; I will surely fill hell with Jinn and humans, all together.
God's visiting (meeting)
يَأَيُّهَا الْانسَنُ إِنَّكَ كاَدِحٌ إِلىَ ‏رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ
(Inshiqāq surah, sing 6): O man! Surely you are striving (attaining) to your Lord, a hard striving (toiling) until you meet him.
The holy Quran descent purposes:
The preliminary purposes:
A) The holy Quran has been descended to warn servants (humans) (Forqān Surah, verse 1);
B) The holy Quran has been descended to explain everything (Nahl Surah, verse89);
C) The holy Quran has been descended to make human ponder (Yusuf, verse2);
D) The holy Quran has been descended to make human reflect
(Nahl, verse 44);
E) The holy Quran is a herald of good news and a warner (Fuṣṣilat, verse4) ;)
F) Theholy Quran is reminder (SĀD, verse1 ;)
G) The holy Quran is guidance and mercy (Nahl surah, verse 89).
2. The intermediate purposes:
A) The holy Quran is to set up the Justice (Hadīd,verse 25);
B) The holy Quran is to judge among people (Baqarah, verse 213
C) The holy Quran is a healer. (Yunus, verse 57; Fuṣṣilat, verse 44 and Asrā’, verse 82);
The final purpose:
The holy Quran has been descended to bring forth people from darkness into light (Ibrāhīm, verse1; Hadīd, verse 9).
Therefore, the final and basic purpose is to guide people to God’s light, and all verses are considered as scientific points in educational matters and educational verses that are defined and interpreted in this direction.
The prophetic mission purposes:
The purposes of the prophecy from the holy Quran point of view include:
1. The basic purpose: to recall people to God. (Ahzāb, verse46)
2. The preliminary and subordinate purposes
A) People liberty (Aʻrāf, verse 157);
B) Establishing Justice (Hadīd, verse25);
C) People education (Jumʻi, verse 2);
D) Reciting the verses to people (Jumʻi, verse2E) Purifying and fostering people Jumʻi, verse 2);)
F) Giving good news and encouraging people to good deeds ( Baqarah, verse119;Ahzabverse,45);
G) Warning people against evil deeds (Baqarah, verse119; Ahzab , verse45);
H) To be a document for people (Ahzāb, verse45);
I) To be as a light- spreading lamp (Ahzāb, verse 46);
K) The spiritual life- giving (Anfāl, versr 24).
ADDING UP:
From the mentioned matters, it can be found that the educational purposes in the Quran include:
First: the preliminary purposes:
1) The awareness of the learner about everything. (Nahl, verse89);
2) The Learner pondering (Yusuf, verse 2; Nahl, verse44
3) The learner should accept the warning about evil deeds (Furqān, verse1; Baqarah, verse 119; Ahzāb, verse 5);
Encouraging the learner to good deeds (Fusillade, verse 4; Baqarah, verse119; Ahzāb, verse5);
5. Teaching the holy Quran to the learner (Jumʻa, verse 2);
6. Reciting the holy Quran to the learner (Jumʻa, verse2);
7. Blessing to the learner (Nahlverse,89; Hood, verses118,119);
8. Reminding the learner (Ṣād, verse10);
9. Guiding the learner (Nahl, verse 89);
10. Testing the learner (Mulk, verse2);
11. Salvation from the Rebels (Nahl, verse36);
12. Inviting the learner toward God ( Ahzāb, verse46);
13. Giving –pattern and accepting- pattern of the learner (Ahzāb, verses45, 21).
The second: the intermediate purposes:
1. Purifying learners (Jumʻi, verse2);
2. Liberty (Aʻrāf, verse157);
3. Seeking justice and its acceptance by a learner (Hadīd, verse25;Jāthiyih , verse 22);
4. Establishing peace among learners by means of judgment (Baqarah, verse 213);
5. To heal a learner morally, faithfully, socially, mentally and spiritually (Yunus, verse 57;Fuṣṣilat, verse, 44; Asrā’, verse82);
6. Worshiping God ( Dhārīyāt,verse 56)
The spiritual life- giving to the learner (Anfāl, verse 24).7
The final purposes:
1. Leading a learner from darkness to God’s light (Ibrāhim, verse1;Hadīd, verse9)
2. Increasing a learner’s knowledge toward God (Ṭalāq, verse12)
3. The achievement of a learner toward God's face (Inshiqāq, verse 6)
In other words, the educational purposes of the holy Quran are divided into two basic categories:
A) The practical purposes are for the completion of practical dimension of human, such as devotion and testing.
B) The scientific purposes are considered for the completion of theoretical dimension of human, such as the knowledge of the world and an increase of the knowledge toward God.
CONCLUSION:
According to the mentioned purposes, the educator’s duties have been specified, and the boundaries of the Quranic education have been separated from other educational schools. In other words, an educator should train a learner (in the best way) that he/she achieved to these preliminary and intermediate purposes, and gets acquainted with God’s (divine) knowledge to achieve to God’s face (satisfaction).
Momentous Point:
From the educational purposes of the Quran, the most important attributes of desirable human can be obtained.
The dimension and the areas of the education in the Quran:
Education has different dimensions and areas that have been focused on them and some techniques have been presented for improving and fostering each one. Of course, the name of these dimensions has not been mentioned explicitly, but it can be properly deduced from the verses.
1) The rational education
The human has wisdom and thought. Hence, the holy Quran has repeatedly referred to the rational education and human has been invited to reflection and cogitation. Moreover, the sources (like the heavens, nature…) have been presented for wisdom and rational growth and even people who do not reflect have been rebuked.
FOR EXAMPLE:
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
(Yusuf, verse2): surely we have sent it down as an Arabic Quran (Quran) so that you may apply reason.
وَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ وَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ وَ النُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَاتُ بِأَمْرِهِ إِنَّ فىِ ذَالِكَ لاََيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
(Nahl, verse12); and he disposed the night and the day for you; and the sun, the moon, and the stars are made subservient (disposed) by his command. Most surely there are verses in this for a people who ponder''.
اعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يحُْىِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتهَِا قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الاَْيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
(Hadīd, verse17); know that Allah revives the earth after its death. We have certainly explained our verses for you; so that you may apply reason (ponder).
وَ هُوَ الَّذِى يحُْىِ وَ يُمِيتُ وَ لَهُ اخْتِلَافُ الَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ أَ فَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
(Mu’minūn, verse80): and it is he who gives life and brings death and due to him is the alternation of the day and the night, do you not reflect?''
2) The social education
The human is a social creature. Hence, the holy Quran has repeatedly referred to human’s social education and has stated extent matters about social organizations. Also, human has been invited to honest relationship with family, relatives, neighbours, friends and other people and also consultation. Moreover, techniques and principle have been presented by the Quran. For example:
* إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَ الْاحْسَنِ وَ إِيتَاى ذِى الْقُرْبىَ‏ وَ يَنْهَى‏ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَ الْمُنكَرِ وَ الْبَغْىِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
(Nahl, verse90): surely Allah enjoins justice and kindness and generosity towards relatives, and he forbids indecency, evil, and rebellion, he admonishes you that you may be mindful''.
* وَ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَ لَا تُشرِْكُواْ بِهِ شَيًْا وَ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَنًا وَ بِذِى الْقُرْبىَ‏ وَ الْيَتَامَى‏ وَ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَ الجَْارِ ذِى الْقُرْبىَ‏ وَ الجَْارِ الْجُنُبِ وَ الصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يحُِبُّ مَن كَانَ مخُْتَالًا فَخُورًا
“(Nisā(women),verse36): worship Allah and do not associate any with him; and do good to your parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the near neighbor and the distant( stranger) neighbor, the companion in a Journey ( traveler), and those whom your right hands possess ( your slaves), surely Allah does not like anyone who is proud, boastful( braggart)''.
وَ إِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنىِ إِسْرَ ءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَ ذِى الْقُرْبىَ‏ وَ الْيَتَامَى‏ وَ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَ قُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَ أَقِيمُواْ الصَّلَوةَ وَ ءَاتُواْ الزَّكَوةَ ثمُ‏َّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَ أَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ(83)
(Baqarah, verse83): and when we made covenant (pledge) with the children of Israel;
Worship no one but Allah, do good to parents, relatives, orphans, and the needy, and you shall kindly speak to people (good words). And keep up prayer and pay the rate (Zakat). You turned away, except a few of you, and you were disregardful (you avoiding doing anything)''.
وَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِرَبهِِّمْ وَ أَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ وَ أَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى‏ بَيْنهَُمْ وَ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
(Shūrā, verse38): and those who respond to their and keep up prayer, and their affairs are by counsel among themselves, and spend out of what we have given them''.
Social cooperation (collaboration):
يَأَيهَُّا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تحُِلُّواْ شَعَئرَِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا الشهَّْرَ الحَْرَامَ وَ لَا الهَْدْىَ وَ لَا الْقَلَئدَ وَ لَا ءَامِّينَ الْبَيْتَ الحَْرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبهِِّمْ وَ رِضْوَانًا وَ إِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَاصْطَادُواْ وَ لَا يجَْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنََانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الحَْرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُواْ وَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلىَ الْبرِِّ وَ التَّقْوَى‏ وَ لَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلىَ الْاثْمِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
''(Mā'‛idah (food), verse2): O you who believe (faith)! Do not violate the verses Allah’s sacraments, neither the sacred month, nor the offering, nor the necklaces (garlands), nor those going to the sacred house, seeking their Lord’s grace and pleasure. But when you are free from pilgrim sanctity, then you may hunt. And let not hatred of a people because they hindered you from the Sacred Masjid (mosque), incite you to transgress. And cooperate in goodness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression, and be careful (wary) of Allah. Surely Allah is sever in retribution''.
The social manners and relations can be found more in Hujurāt and Loqman surahs.